Trailblazer Guide Books

Worth watching out for.
 — John Cleare

Using this guide

While this guide has been divided into stages, each of which approximates a day’s walk, they are meant as a guide only. To plan an itinerary that better suits your pace, fitness and the time you have available, please see the ‘Suggested itineraries’ section on pp33-4.
    The route summaries below describe the trail between significant places and are written as if walking the coast path from Plymouth to South Haven Point, near Poole. To enable you to plan your own itinerary, practical information is presented clearly on the trail maps. This includes walking times, all places to stay, camp and eat, as well as shops where you can buy supplies. Further service details are given in the text under the entry for each place.
    For a condensed overview of this information see the town and village facilities table on pp38-9.

TRAIL MAPS

Scale and walking times
The trail maps are to a scale of 1:20,000 (1cm = 200m; 31/8 inches = one mile). Walking times are given along the side of each map and the arrow shows the direction to which the time refers. Black triangles indicate the points between which the times have been taken. See the note on walking times in the box overleaf.
    The time-bars are a tool and are not there to judge your walking ability. There are so many variables that affect walking speed, from the weather conditions to how many beers you drank the previous evening. After the first hour or two of walking you will be able to see how your speed relates to the timings on the maps.

Up or down?
Other than when on a track or bridleway the trail is shown as a dotted line. An arrow across the trail indicates the slope; two arrows show that it is steep. Note that the arrow points towards the higher part of the trail. If, for example, you are walking from A (at 80m) to B (at 200m) and the trail between the two is short and steep it would be shown thus: A— — — >> — — – B. Reversed arrow heads indicate downward gradient.

GPS waypoints
The numbered GPS waypoints refer to the list on pp325-7.

Accommodation
Apart from in large towns where some selection of places has been necessary, almost every place to stay that is within easy reach of the trail is marked. Details of each place are given in the accompanying text.
    For B&B-style accommodation the number and type of rooms is given after each entry: S = single room, T = twin room, D = double room, Tr = triple, F = triple or family room (usually either three single beds, a double and bunk beds, or a double and two singles). Family rooms can therefore almost always also be used as a double or twin. Where a place has a lot of rooms that can be used as double, twin or family the text gives the number and says flexible rooms.
    Rates quoted are per person (pp) based on two people sharing a room for a one-night stay; rates are almost always discounted for longer stays. Where a single room (sgl) is available the rate for that is quoted if different from the per person rate. The rate for single occupancy (sgl occ) of a double/twin may be higher, and the rate for three or more sharing a family room may be lower. Unless specified, rates are for B&B. At some places the only option is a room rate; this will be the same whether one or two people share.
    Many places do not accept advance bookings for a single-night stay at peak times; the minimum is often two, or even, three nights. However, if you turn up on the day or even call the night before they may accept a booking.
    Most B&Bs don’t accept credit/debit cards but hotels usually do.
    The text also mentions whether the premises have wi-fi (wi-fi); if a bath is available (?) in at least one room; and whether dogs (?) are welcome. Most places will not take more than one dog in a room and also accept them subject to prior arrangement. Some make an additional charge (usually per night but occasionally per stay) while others may require a deposit which is refundable if the dog doesn’t make a mess.
    Prices for camping vary from site to site. For backpackers many sites charge for two people in a small tent although others charge per pitch and per person. There is no single rule that applies everywhere. It is often the case that owners of large sites set aside a small field just for backpackers but their priority is families who book fixed tents or caravans for their annual holiday.
    Booking is recommended for all campsites in summer school holidays but is usually not necessary at other times.

Other features
Features are marked on the map when pertinent to navigation. In order to avoid cluttering the maps and making them unusable not all features have been marked each time they occur.

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